Folding table



1,644,672 H. J. GILBERT FOLDING TABLE Filed Sept, 24, 1925 I 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Oct.

X. Wu s .& WM, Y m h. N %M .5. Ms W w Oct. 11, 1927.

. I 1,644,672 H. J. GILBERT FOLDING TABLE Filed Sept. 24} 1925 4 She'e'ts-Sheet 2 H.. J. I GILBERT FOLDING TABLE Filed Sept. 24. 1925 4 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patented Oct. ,11, 1927.

UNITED STATES ram" v o s-r ce.

HENRY J. GILBERT, OF SACIIN'AW, MICHIGAN.

romaine TABLE.

Application filed September 24, 1925. Serial mL 58,223.

My invention relates to folding tables, and is more particularly adapted to collapsible ironing boards or tables of the type 1n which the board is provided with collapsible legs which fold flat against the board, so

that the device occupies little space when tion being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims defining my invention.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated my'invention both in a preferred form and in a modified form of embodiment. Figure 1 of the drawings shows a side view of the preferred form-with the legs in extended position, showing also in dotted lines the relative positions of the' folding members when partly collapsed, it being understood, however, that in folding the table it may most conveniently be manipulated by supporting the table on what will be termed its rear end while the legs are being folded; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the folded table; Fig. 3 is a detail of a fasteneron the under side of the table for securing the end of a supporting strut; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, employing the term vertical (as well as other expressions hereinafter employed to indicate position) with reference to the position of the parts when the leg structure is extended and the table set up ready for use; Fig. 5 is a detail showing the construction of a pivoting bracket secured to the cross member of the rear legs, the associated parts being shown in folded position, as in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a section of the same on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the same parts in extended position, corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sideview of the modified o invention, corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 9

is a bottom plan view of such modification;

Figs. 10 and 11 are details of the modified rm of my.

spectively to Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 12 is a detail of a pivotal connection of the front legs and supporting strut, and Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of a bearing plate and stop at the upper end of the front leg of the table.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures of the drawmg.

Describing first the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, the ironing board 1 is provided on its under side near its rear end with a transverse metal bar 2, bent at right angles at its ends to form pivoting lugs 2 The two rear leis 3-3, which are rigidly secured together y a cross bar 4 are in the present instance provided with hearing plates 3 having each a short bottom 'fiange engaging-a transverse kerf in the innerside face of the leg, and the branches 55 of the front leg are equipped with hearing plates 5 similarly flanged and arran ed, and each having also an inclined end ange 5 which in the extended position of the leg structure brings up against therear edge of the corresponding pivoting lug 2 the legs being pivoted to such lugs by headed pivots 6-6 which provide bearings for the rear and front legs. Centrally secured a bracket piece 7 formed with an upwardly extending flange 8, which is formed with forwardly extendin lugs 99 and rearwardly inclinef stop lugs 9 -9. 'To st-ifien and strengthen the rear leg structure I provide obliquely disposed braces 10-10 secured to opposite ends of the bracket piece 7 and the legs 3-3.

To support the front end of the table I employ a floating strut 11 extendingbetween the bracket piece 7 and a rotatable flat looking button 12 carried by a plate 13 secured to the under face of the board centrally near its forward end, the front end of the strut being equipped with a slotted metal bearing piece 14 arranged to engage the looking button, which may be rotated to lock or to release the forward end of the strut. The strut is pivotally connected with the cross rod 15 extending between them, and is also pivotall connected to the upper and forward en s of a pair of links 16-16 which are pivoted attheir lower ends to the pivoting lugs 9-4) of the bracket piece 7 befo'rementioned'. For the purpose of centerof the cross-bar 4 is pivoting branches of the front 'legby 'means of a ing the strut 11 between the branches of the front leg while permitting free pivotal rotation 'of the parts, the cross rod 15 is formed with annular grooves at its center and near its ends which are engaged by a central retaining pin 15 driven into engagement therewith through the strut, and a pair of end retainin pins in the form of screws 15" seated in t e branches of the leg.

In extended position the strut 11 and links 16-16 extend parallel with each other and in effect form a composite .truss element extending between the cross rod 15' and pivoting lugs 9-9, the parts of this truss element formin 'a toggle oint at the forward end of the 'nks. To put these elements under compressionand put the front and rear legs under tension, holding them against separation when the strut and links are in alignment, I rovide a tension'rod 17 which is ivoted etween the branches 'of the front eg adjacent its foot and which at the rear passes through a slot in the bracket piece 7 and is formed with a stop head 18, in the present instance a loop, arran ed to bring up against the rear side of said racket piece and take up all looseness in the. pivoting of Qthe parts when the leg structure is fully'extended.

The lower end of the strut is arranged to bear against the stop lugs 9-9- when the leg structure-is extended and guard against any excessive strain on the pivotal connections ofthe links 16 -16.

To .accommodate the tension rod 17 in folded osition it will be noted that the cross bar 0 the rear legs is formed with a groove 19.

.It is manifest that the extended leg structure, considered alone, is a rigid stable structure in which all loose motion of the parts is taken up, and that a weight upon the 1 ron ing board will exert a compressive streesion the strut member and a tensile strain on the tension rod which will all the more strongly increase this interaction and relationship of the arts.

e modified form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive operates in the samemanner as the preferred form already described, but differs in'the forni of the bracket iece and connecting link pivoted to the brac et piece and supporting strut.

In this modified form the bracket piece, marked 20, is formed with up-turned -por tions bent to form hinge rolls 21 which are connected by a pintle 22 with a hinge roll formed at the lower end of asingle flat link with a crosshead 17 which in such extended position lies within the angle between the rolls' and body of the bracket piece.

The upper ends of'the branches of the ront 1e may be cut awa at an angle and extended rearwardl to orm stops 5-5, for the purpose. 0 preventin excess unfoldin movement of the legs eyond their norma extended position, and the front and rear legs may be directly pivoted by means of pivot bolts 6-6"- to the pivoting lugs 2, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 illustrating the modified form of my invention..

For convenience in securing a cloth cover to the iron-ing board I have provided screw eyes'25 seated in the board through orifices in the bar 2. In setting up the board itgwill be found convenient to rest the rear end of the folded board upon the .floor, then extend the front and rear legs together until the front leg is arrested by the stop flanges 5"-5" of the bearing plates 5 then further extend the rear legs and brin strut 11 into parallelism with the li' s to form a rigid 1e structure, and then lock the upper end of t e strut to the board through the locking button 12. In folding the board,

the strut may be disengaged from the lock ingbutton', and the toggle joint between the strut and links broken, after which the folding of the rear legs will automatically also fold the front leg.

Iclaim: 7 1

1. In a folding ironing table, an ironing board, a pair of rigidly connected rear legs pivoted to said board adjacent its rear end, a forwardly inclined front leg also pivoted to said board adjacent its rear end, a supporting strut. ivoted intermediate its length to said front eg at an intermediate point thereof, said strut being arranged to be detachably connectedat its upper end to the forward portion of said board and to bear at v legs and constituting a compression member intermediate said board and rear legs, a link element pivoted to said connected rear legs and also ivoted to said strut at a point between sai rear legs and front leg to form a toggle, and a tension rod arranged to connect the lower portions of said front leg and rear legs.

2. 1.1 a folding ironing table, an ironing board, a. pair of rigidly connected rear legs pivoted to said board adjacent its rear end,

a bracket piece carried by said rear legs an supported centrally therebetween, a forwardly inclined front leg also pivoted to sald board adjacent its rear end, a supportlng strut pivoted intermediate its length to sald front leg at an intermediate oint thereof, said strut being arranged to e detacha bly connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said board, a link element pivoted to said bracket piece and also pivoted to said 'its lower end against said connected rear strut between said bracket piece and front leg to form a toggle, the rear end of said strut being arranged to abut against said bracket piece, and a tension rod arranged to connect said front leg and said bracket piece.

3. In a folding ironing table, an ironing board, a pair of rigidly connected rear legs pivoted to said board adjacent its rear end, a bracket piece carried by said rear legs and supported centrally v therebetween, a forwardly inclined front leg also pivoted to said and passing loosely through said bracket piece, the rear end of said rod being equipped with a head arranged to engage said bracket piece.

4. A foldin table accordin to claim -1 in which said element conslsts of a pair of link 'members on opposite sidesof the supporting strut and t e lower end of the strut member therebetween is arranged to bear against said connected rear legs.

5. A foldin table according to claim 2 in which said b'racket piece is formed with pivoting ortions arranged to ivotally engage the 'nk element and an inclined stop ace arranged to abut against the end of the supportin strut.

. 6. A fo ding table according to claim 2 in which said link element consists of a pair oflink members on opposite sides of the su portin strut and said bracket piece 1s forms with a pair of pivoting ears'arranged to provide pivot beanngs'for said links and with a slot between said ears 'to receive the tension rod and with inclined stop flanges.

- 7. In a folding ironing table, an ironing board,-a pair of rigidly connected rear legs pivoted adjacent opposite sides of the board near its rear end, a orwardly inclined from;

leg comprising branches united atthe foot rear leg, and a tension rod connected to said 'front leg near its foot and-connectedto said connected rear legs adjacent the lower end ofsaid strut.

8. In a folding ironing table, an ironingboard. equipped with pivoting lugs, a pair'of .rigidly connected rear legs pivoted to said board adjacent its rear end, a forwardly inclined front leg consistingof branches and having at least one of said branches equipped with a bearing plate-formed with a stop flange arranged to bring up against the corresponding pivoting lug, a supporting strut givoted intermediate its length to said front eg at an intermediate point thereof, said strut at its upper end being arranged to detachabl the boar;

, a lin element pivoted to said connected rear legs and also pivoted to said strut between said rear legs and said "front leg -toform a toggle, and a tension rod enga e'the forward portion ofpivoted to said front leg near its foot and arranged to engage said connected rear #3 adjacent the pivotal connection of the element therewith.

HENRY J. GILBERT. 

